Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
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Total |
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Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
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(a) 2019 | (b) 2020 | (c) 2021 | (d) 2022 | (e) 2023 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 1,201,808 | 1,612,114 | 1,603,003 | 2,257,094 | 2,134,808 | 8,808,827 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf .... | 0 | |||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | 0 | |||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 1,201,808 | 1,612,114 | 1,603,003 | 2,257,094 | 2,134,808 | 8,808,827 |
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f) .. | 707,720 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 8,101,107 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
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(a) 2019 | (b) 2020 | (c) 2021 | (d) 2022 | (e) 2023 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 1,201,808 | 1,612,114 | 1,603,003 | 2,257,094 | 2,134,808 | 8,808,827 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | 39,490 | 34,077 | 39,110 | 54,398 | 118,740 | 285,815 |
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | 610 | 20 | 630 | |||
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 9,095,272 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal
year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2019 | (b) 2020 | (c) 2021 | (d) 2022 | (e) 2023 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2019 | (b) 2020 | (c) 2021 | (d) 2022 | (e) 2023 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included on line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
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| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 0.015 of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by 0.035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | 1 | |
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
2 | |
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | 3 | |
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | 4 | |
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required - provide details in Part VI) | 5 | |
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | 6 | |
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | 7 | |
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
8 | |
| 9 Distributable amount for 2023 from Section C, line 6 | 9 | |
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | 10 | |
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2023 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2023 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2023 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2023 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI).
See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2023: | ||||
| a From 2018....... | ||||
| b From 2019....... | ||||
| c From 2020....... | ||||
| d From 2021....... | ||||
| e From 2022....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2023 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2018 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2023 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2023 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2023, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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6
Remaining underdistributions for 2023. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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7 Excess distributions carryover to 2024. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2021..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2022..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2023..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
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| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Software ID: | 23017517 |
| Software Version: | 2023v5.1 |
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b | Board of directors are generally emailed a copy of the Form 990 prior to submission to review and ask questions. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c | Any potential conflicts of interests are disclosed to the board and recorded in the minutes. The interested director abstains from voting on the matter. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15a | Regarding compensation, the board seeks out comparable compensation information where it is available for comparable jobs and contacts national organizations for positions such as program coordinators. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 | Governing documents and financial statements are made available to the public upon request. |
| Form 990, Part XI, Line 9 | ROUNDING = -$1 |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A - PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS | The organization is increasingly focused on diversifying income streams to carry out our mission. In 2023, 21% of income came from Private Foundations; 13% from Corporations; 7% from Individuals; and 4% from Events, Tours, and Specialty License Plates. Another 43% of income is derived from State and Federal Agreements, much of which is used as cost-share in landowner-initiated conservation projects. (In 2023, investments was unchanged at 13%.)BLACKFOOT COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AREA:Implemented 60 acres of forest treatments in the Larch Unit to improve stand resilience.Received a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) EQIP contract as part of the North Ovando Fuel Reduction Targeted Implementation Plan for 270 acres along the north boundary of the BCCA Core. Developed a detailed forestry prescription, aiming to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires while enhancing wildlife habitat.Coordinated with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks on future cross-boundary forest management/habitat projects.Controlled invasive weeds on road systems, forest treatment areas, and native prairies through integrated approaches across 150 acres including biological controls, chemical application, and hand-pulling. Hosted multiple volunteer days with university and hunter groups (more than 80 volunteers) to remove old fences and pull noxious weeds. Projects improved conditions and saved thousands of dollars. Hosted multiple presentations on and about the BCCA to visiting groups including local schools, university, and international groups. Provided year-round public access on 5,600 acres, including hiking trails, 8-week motorized use season, and hunting via the Block Management Program.Maintained and expanded 3-mile hiking trail system.Completed road improvements and opened a seasonal, cross-boundary motorized loop in 2023 in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Implemented the NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program completing multiple conservation enhancements, including wildlife friendly fencing, forest treatments, noxious weed control, and vegetation monitoring. Installed two beaver dam analogs as a demonstration to enhance wetland habitat, reconnect flood plain, and improve late season stock water. EDUCATION:Provided hands-on, investigative outdoor snowpack science experiences to students at Lincoln, Helmville, and Ovando schools.Coordinated forestry lessons for students at Sunset School.Presented on collaborative stewardship to Helena High School students.Delivered bear education activities to youth fishing camp attendees at North Fork Crossing Lodge.Provided aquatic ecology activities with students from Seeley Lake Elementary and the Montana Outdoor Science Academy.Hosted more than 100 middle school students from five watershed schools during our annual Youth Field Day on the Rolling Stone Ranch near Ovando. Blackfoot Challenge staff along with local ranchers provided hands-on activities about ranching and stewardship that met science standards and made learning fun.Alongside multiple program staff, planned, coordinated, and directed weeklong field course on collaborative conservation and natural resource science for students from Shattuck-St. Marys School in Minnesota.Used the drone to document BCCA larch thinning project, biochar application on ranch lands, and prescribed fire on the Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA.FORESTRY:Facilitated 169 acres of prescribed burning on private lands and supported public partner burns across more than 1,400 acres.Completed 378 acres of forest thinning to improve forest health and reduce fire risk.Conducted six outreach / education tours or events throughout the Blackfoot to showcase prescribed fire effects and efforts.Hosted the Annual Fire Learning Network workshop for dozens of agency and NGO partners who work in fire-prone landscapes.LAND STEWARDSHIP:Partnered with NRCS on the development of the new fuel reduction initiative. The proposal was funded early in the year, with a goal to reduce fuel loads on over 1,000 acres of private land to mitigate catastrophic wildfires and increase forest resiliency. Conducted landowner outreach to increase awareness and participation in the program. Three contracts were funded in the first year, totaling about 500 acres. Completed project on Kleinschmidt Creek including riparian fencing, stock water gap, and off-stream stock water in preparation for implementing an innovative grazing management system. Assisted Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited (BBCTU), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and landowners with the development of grazing management plan for the Nevada Creek stream restoration project, including more than 2 miles of riparian fencing and two stock water gaps. Continued to implement Cottonwood Creek riparian grazing management plan with landowner and lessee. Assisting with planning off-stream stock water in 2024. Together with The Nature Conservancy, coordinated the application of biochar on private agricultural lands (including 5 plots, soil testing, biochar/compost transportation, and mixing/spreading by landowners). Coordinated the Biochar Steering Group and used a budget surplus toward purchase, haul, and application of additional biochar for 2024. Together with NRCS and USFWS, continued to plan and coordinate conifer encroachment removal projects in the Helmville area to conserve grassland/sage habitat and rangeland, benefiting rare native bird species. Conducted a joint RFP with private and federal partners resulting in completion of conifer removal across more than 1,000 acres. Assisted BBCTU with maintenance and landowner communications for 8 fish screens to mitigate fish entrainment in irrigation ditches.Presented information on soil health to Partnerscapes conference tour group, reaching over 150 participants from around the nation. Gave presentations to University of Montana wildlife biology class on conifer encroachment, University of Idaho range management class on grazing management, and Drummond students on stream restoration.TRUMPETER SWANS & NATIVE BIRDS:Wrote blog on avian flu in relation to trumpeter swans and other species.Monitored trumpeter swan nests in watershed and Brewers sparrow numbers in Helmville-area conifer encroachment project sites.Engaged 10 watershed residents in our community science program monitoring populations of long-billed curlews and common loons. Presented to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Migratory Birds & Science Programs tour.Contributed column on trumpeter swan recovery success for Pathfinder newspaper.Provided raptor education lessons to students at Bonner and Helmville schools.VEGETATION:Offered integrated noxious weed management recommendations to landowners including native and exotic plant identification, herbicide application products and rates, biological control with insects, and appropriate reseeding practices.Hosted two weed pulls at the Russell Gates Fishing Access Site for the 25th year.Completed Wildlife Habitat Improvement (WHIP) grant with noxious weed treatments on the BCCA, including spot spray herbicide applications on 271 acres and biological control with insects on 135 acres.Applied for a continuation of the WHIP grant to revisit treated areas and initiate noxious weed treatment on new areas within the BCCA core.Covered approximately 95 miles of the Blackfoot River Corridor Vegetation Management Area in Powell and Missoula counties and treated almost 40 acres of noxious weeds through a Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund Grant. Met with landowners in the Nevada Creek Vegetation Management Area and applied for a Noxious Weed Trust Fund cost-share grant for the 2024 field season. Assisted in native plant and noxious weed education, weed pulling, and reseeding workshops on the BCCA during student field days.WATER:Continued to build shared understanding, vision, and capacity to address river recreation pressures in the watershed through a stakeholder group.Added capacity to the recreation discussion by bringing on a volunteer recreation coordinator and partnering with the University of Montanas Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management department to collect information for identified data gaps. Completed the 14th year of our irrigation scheduling program, providing weekly irrigation information, tips, drought strategies, and soil health concerns to over 100 irrigators throughout the watershed.Continued in our 4th year of a soil moisture monitoring program with 17 locations where irrigators track daily soil moisture information, manage their irrigation accordingly, and test different irrigation or cropping strategies.Coordinated and supported partner efforts to collect the second year of data on two hydrologic studies in the watershed one on the Blackfoot River and one in the Nevada Creek drainage.Worked with multiple partners and landowners to monitor stream flow and collect assessment data on three tributary streams in order to inform rest |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A - PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS | WILDLIFEEmployed Elk Hunt Coordinator to work with hunters on hunting opportunities and scheduled hunts on participating ranches during the elk hunt shoulder seasons.Conducted winter surveys in the Southwest Crown of the Continent for lynx, wolverine, wolves, mountain lions, marten and bobcat.Installed 6 new electric fences and 9 new drive-over electric mat systems (added to 21 existing mats) to deter grizzly bears from home sites and prevent bears from getting into conflict. Also provided fence materials to protect 3 bee yards,1 chicken coop, 1 goat pen and 1 hobby farm.Removed 330 carcasses from Blackfoot-area ranches to reduce attractants for bears and wolves. Expanded the program to two communities outside the watershed. Since 2003, we have had more than 120 participating ranches and landowners, and more than 11,200 carcasses have been moved to the composting site Hosted interactive Be Bear Aware programs at five watershed schools; hosted a training for staff at an area guest ranch; presented a livestock guard dog workshop to share how dogs may be used to prevent conflicts with bears and wolves.Provided a team of staff and board to consult with Colorado wildlife managers and landowners as they consider conflict management tools for reintroduced wolves. Completed a film about the Blackfoot Challenge Wildlife Program, showcasing the carnivore conflict reduction tools that have been used in the Blackfoot watershed.Employed 2 range riders to monitor livestock and wolf/grizzly movement across 72,000 acres to prevent conflicts.Provided 15 bear-resistant garbage bins to area residents and helped purchase another 35 bins with state and federal partners to support Seeley Lakes Clearwater Bear Smart efforts.Assisted with a new bear-aware opportunity at the Old Salt Festival, helping educate hundreds of guests on containing attractants and ensuring no conflicts with bears. Collected grizzly bear hair samples throughout the watershed in partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to support research efforts. |
| Software ID: | 23017517 |
| Software Version: | 2023v5.1 |